medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
OK. I'll admit to special circumstances -- senior scholar, with tenure
and a history of involvement with electronic tools and research, strong
connections in the pertinent field. Perhaps those sorts of factors
create a situation in which "special" considerations might apply, such
as being able to get publishers to agree to contract revisions. But my
impression is that younger scholars feel bound to accept standard
contracts ("if I object, they may reject my work") and don't even ask
about such changes as reserving the electronic rights, or even
stipulating that if the work goes out of print, the copyright
automatically reverts to the author. My experience, even in my academic
youth, is that such adjustments are possible and such questions need to
be raised. Not all publishers are draconian about the arrangements.
Indeed, the copyright issue should be about that printed version, not
about every version, and while publishers often/usually try to include
control over "revised" versions and the like, it is not always clear how
much latitude there is -- is significant revision or updating under a
different title covered? Etc. And if one has already issued some of the
material, or a preliminary version of the work, in electronic form on a
web page (e.g. even the web page for students in one's class), how does
that affect the hardcopy contract? Publishers aim for exclusive rights,
but these days that is a difficult goal, and can open the door for
further negotiation.
There have been discussions, such as on the HUMANIST list, about the
problem of an author wanting to circulate her/his work to students
freely in electronic form for class purposes after publication, but
being prohibited by "the contract," or being charged exorbitant rates by
the publisher (especially true in the sciences, I think; Elsevier comes
to mind -- check google on "Elsevier boycott"). Discussions also are
taking place among the leaders and members of some scholarly societies,
and especially those that have publication programs. These are not
hidden issues, so the inexperienced author needs to be ready to ask
questions and seek guidance if in doubt.
My response to Maddy's original query:
"Given the choice between making your material available online and publishing
in one of the notional 'A-list' journals, thus securing your job and possibly
that of your colleagues for another 5 years, what would you do?"
is not either/or but "both/and" -- at very least announce the project online, with some prepublication materials before seeking hardcopy publication, which provides a reference point for negotiations when it comes to contract time. As has already been noted in this discussion, some research funders even require that results be publicly available (e.g. to the tax payers whose funds are being used), which might also in some situations help open the doors of negotiation. In short, don't be hesitant to ask for adjustments to contracts, and be ready to propose substitute wording to that end. In my experience, publishers are not closed to such discussions and it is in their interests to maintain good relationships with their supplyers.
Bob Kraft, UPenn emeritus
On 5/31/2012 2:53 PM, Christopher Crockett wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> From: Madeleine Gray<[log in to unmask]>
>
>> Couldn't have put it better myself - but the question remains, what do we do
> about it?
>
> do?
>
> DO?
>
> we're all Scholards here, Maddy, unceasingly embracing the Contemplative Life
> so that the World won't Go to Hell in a Handbasket.
>
> it's certainly not up to us to "Do" anything about it at all.
>
> 'cept, maybe, talk about it.
>
> quietly, amongst ourselves, and in a Civil Manner.
>
>> And yes, I regularly publish stuff my library can't afford, never mind my
> students.
>
> ah*HA*
>
> Part of the Problem, eh?
>
> **Get Her**, everyone.
>
> now, where's that Pitchfork of mine when i really need it?
>
> c
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
>> From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
> culture [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Christopher Crockett
> [[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: 31 May 2012 16:43
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [M-R] restoring the Archimedes palimpsest
>>
>> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>>
>> From: Madeleine Gray<[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>> If you are on a temporary contract with a small and struggling
> institution,
>> you simply cannot afford to offend the publishing heavyweights.
>>
>> i'm trying --without success-- to think of another Industry (in addition to
>> scholarly publishing) which both
>>
>> 1) gets it raw material absolutely *FREE* [SUCKERS!!]
>>
>> and
>>
>> b) prices its product well beyond the means of many of its potential
> customers
>> --including many who are also the primary suppliers of the fodder for that
>> production.
>> (i'm primarily talking here about the "industry heavyweights": the likes of
>> Brill, Palgrave, Pindar, Brepols, the [Evil Twins, who should know better]
>> Oxbridge UPs, etc.)
>>
>> there is also something of a corollary to (b):
>>
>> the Heavyweights' pricing scheme poops in their own nest, since it greatly
>> restricts the dissemination of the very knowledge which is (or purports to
> be)
>> their primary product.
>>
>>> Given the choice between making your material available online and
> publishing
>> in one of the notional 'A-list' journals, thus securing your job and
> possibly
>> that of your colleagues for another 5 years, what would you do?
>>
>> this is a Trick Question, right?
>>
>> c
>>
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